Archive is a music-collective, originating from London, UK, but based in Pa… Read Full Bio ↴Archive is a music-collective, originating from London, UK, but based in Paris, France for many years where they enjoy a much bigger following. They are signed to Warner Music France.

Archive was formed by Londoners Darius Keeler and Danny Griffiths in 1994 and began as an electronica project. At the beginning, they mixed Bristol-style, Massive Attack, Portishead with Rap. The first album of the band, Londinium released in 1996 (with Roya Arab and Rosko John as guest vocalists). The second album, Take my Head, (which the band hates) was released in 1999 (with a new guest vocalist Suzanne Wooder), it is much more melodic than Londinium. The first song of the album, You Make Me Feel, illustrates this change in the Archive's music. After being dropped by their label and more changes in the lineup, the band seemed to hit its stride on the third album You All Look The Same To Me (2002), featuring singer Craig Walker (formerly of Power of Dreams), which took a decided turn toward more progressive music (with some Progressive Rock influences, notably Pink Floyd whose indelible influence is audible on tracks such as 'Finding it so Hard' and 'Again'), while still maintaining electronic elements. The band saw growing popularity and critical acclaim, especially in France, Greece, Germany and Poland. After recording two more artistically—but not too commercially—successful albums, Michel Vaillant (2003) and Noise (2004), Walker left the band for reasons the band and he will not talk about. The project continued on as a Collective, with new vocalists, Pollard Berrier and Dave Pen. In May 2006 they released the album Lights with Pollard Berrier on lead vocals, who is also a member/guest member of the innovative group, "Bauchklang" - a completely vocal beat-box (Vocal Groove) group based in Vienna, Austria. Archive released a live album, entitled,Live at Paris Zenith, in May, 2007 - which was recorded on January 20th, 2007 at the sold out Zentih Arena in Paris. Rolling Stone called it, "The best live album ever made." Archive continues to tour and is working on a number of forthcoming releases in the near future.

Archive are a Collective, not a band.

Waste
Archive Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Talk to me
I haven't said a word in days
Please talk to me
And I can tell you of my ways
In which I numb myself
In which I numb myself

Drink with me

I will talk of things I want
To do in life but know I can't
Find the energy, find the energy
Find the energy, find the energy

Time has come
Come to me at such a speed
And given me the time I need
To waste

Waste on you, I've got time to waste on you
Waste on you, I've got time to waste on you
Waste on you, I've got time to waste on you
On you
On and on and on and on with you

Waste on you, I've got time to waste on you
Waste on you, I've got time to waste on you
On you

On and on and on and on with you
On and on and on and on with you

On and on and on and on with you
...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Archive's song Waste depict a sense of isolation and despair that the singer is feeling. He's begging someone to talk to him as he hasn't spoken a word in days, indicating that he's been suffering in solitude. The singer shares a desire to numb himself, both emotionally and physically. He invites the other person to drink with him and in his inebriated state, he talks about things he wants to do in life, although he knows he cannot muster the energy to achieve them. Time has been moving fast and the singer has found enough time to waste on this person. The last line of the song continues repeating 'On and on and on and on with you,' like a mantra, emphasizing that the singer feels stuck in this situation with no way out.

The song evokes a sense of helplessness in the face of difficulties that can't be easily overcome. The singer seeks refuge in isolation and alcohol, but ultimately finds himself wasting time with no apparent purpose. The song's repetitiveness creates an impression of being trapped with no room for escape. The tone of the song is melancholic, and the music plays a crucial role in magnifying the mood of the lyrics. Overall, the song Waste can be interpreted as a portrayal of human emotions, where we experience moments of desolation and hopelessness, and we struggle to find a way back to normalcy.

Line by Line Meaning

Talk to me
Please communicate with me

I haven't said a word in days
I have been silent for days

Please talk to me
I'm in dire need of some conversation

And I can tell you of my ways
I can share with you how I deal with things

In which I numb myself
Which helps me emotionally detach

Drink with me
Let's have a drink together

I will talk of things I want
I will speak of things that are important to me

To do in life but know I can't
Desires I have, but know I cannot fulfill

Find the energy, find the energy
I need to find motivation

Time has come
The moment has arrived

Come to me at such a speed
It has arrived suddenly